Negotiation tactics

Jake has seventeen museum brochures spread across his desk like he’s planning a cultural pilgrimage. I have trail maps covering my yoga mat like I’m plotting a mountain expedition.

Negotiation tactics

This is what happens when you try to plan a romantic anniversary getaway and discover you’re fundamentally different species of traveler.

His idea of vacation relaxation: wine tasting tours, art galleries, maybe a cooking class where someone else does the prep work. My idea: sunrise hikes, kayaking, rock climbing walls, anything that makes my heart rate spike above resting.

My research station involves significantly more elevation gain.

We’ve been at this for two hours and the only thing we’ve agreed on is that we both want to go somewhere.

The compromise spreadsheet is getting ridiculous. Column A: his preferences. Column B: mine. Column C: the mythical overlap where museum hiking and gallery rock climbing might somehow exist. Pretty sure we’re going to end up at a resort that has both a spa and a climbing wall, spending half our time doing things the other person tolerates.

At least the research phase is entertaining. Jake just asked if there are any mountains with good wine caves. I asked if there are any art museums with rappelling exhibits. We’re both being completely unreasonable and I love him for it.